At Goshen

Played at Goshen tonight and what an exciting game for our defense!!! Just another reminder that "Defense wins championships!" :) They were on the field most of the time, but our offense did well when they needed to. Tyler played only linebacker again tonight and was in on many tackles and had one AWESOME solo tackle right in front of us on the 50 yard line! Wow. Mishawaka was up 21-0 and Tyler preserved the shut out when Goshen was down on the 5 yard line trying to score, 4th down and Goshen passes to Tyler's side. Goshen kid tips the ball right into Tyler's hands and Tyler gets 2 yards to save the Lights Out Defense!! Great night of good 'ole high school FOOTBALL!!!
From the South Bend Tribune:
"Our defense played with confidence," Curtis said. "We played inspired, outstanding defense."
That's not to say the Redskins didn't have their chances. Twice in the second half they had drives end up deep in Mishawaka territory-once at the 11, when a field goal sailed wide, and again at the 6, when Tyler Reinoehl picked off a pass.

Looking Up

We have kind of been in a slump lately, well, more like lost in the in between world with not knowing exactly what to do from here for a bit. It has left some of us a little cranky just by the thought of the unknown. Finally, today, things are starting to take a turn for the better and we found a path. At the end of the school this past year for Trenton, he decided to take his name of housing assignment to try and find a place off campus with some friends. They put their names in for a few different houses all summer and nothing ever went through. By August we were worried because Trenton was pretty much homeless. Little did we know also that his North Central grant he had been receiving would be taken off his financial aid if he lived off campus. That would end up costing him nearly $8,000 more to live per year! Talk about stress!!!! So we immediatly put him on the waiting list for a dorm knowing he was 12th at this point. Well, today, we got the email. He has a room. The bad part is not knowing his room mates but we are praying it all works out. I have been praying hard for an answer....Thank you God for that answer...Jeremiah 29:11

Season Opener against DeKalb

Led by Senior Leader and Captain, Tyler, the Cavemen went on to defeat DeKalb 47-7 last night! And what an awesome game it was! So proud of Abby's cousin, Sam, who earned the starting quarterback position. He really stepped it up. And Tyler....wow, Tyler played only defense last night...linebacker...his favorite place to be...and it showed. He was in on almost every tackle and even got a turnover after recovering a fumble from DeKalb. The support for Tyler was extraordinary last night! Ron (his lifting coach) came from Chicago to watch, my parents, Chad and the family, Pam and the kiddos, Abby, Trenton, Dad R and Dave were all there. A HUGE thank you to all who came to watch. I know it means alot to my kids to have that much support!! Just watching Tyler be a leader was overwhelming for me...his senior year...wow. Congrats to the Cavemen for an awesome victory!!!

Ode to Football Moms - Welcome Season!

You dreaded this year's arrival, but it has come just the same, a year full of promise but so many "last times."
You have been top of the world elated when your son has a good night and endured his deathlike silences when he hasn't. It is amazing how the family mood bobs with the rhythm of each game.
You have laughed, cried, screamed, sulked, pouted, sweat, pulled your hair, bit your nails, bit your tongue, paced, worried, shoved, frowned, and smiled all very gracefully and within a tow hour span.
Such is the life of a football mom.
You may not be in on the big play, but you feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat right along with your son. You keep your composure when some fan behind you wants your son's head while the opponent on the field is smashing it into the grass. "get off him that's my baby," you'd like to shout.
You breathe football at this time of year, especially this time of year when your heart whispers, "just a little longer," as the season slides by. You plead and bargain, knowing full well that some other mother on the opponent's team is making her own deal with the almighty, but you do it anyway, because you no more want it to end than your son does. You do not want to see the desperation in his eyes and the pain on his face as he struggles to put away childhood dreams. You are helpless in the stands with no way to make it better.
Is it worth it?
You bet it is!
Every lost sock and busy Friday night; every recovering Saturday; every aspirin; every ruined hairdo; hot bath; goose bumps; and every obnoxious fan and sportswriter you've had to tolerate is worth it. The fun isn't measured by how many times your son gets into the newspaper, the game or what he does when he gets there. The fun, what makes those trips to the ER for the pigskin stitches all worthwhile, is watching a game, watching what a sporting experience can do to convert your little boy into a young man. Watching him tackle the world and you have a front row seat!
You still see that rambunctious 5 year old playing football in the yard. You bit your lip and hold back the tears because though you are fiercely proud of the man, you miss the boy. In fact, you mourn for all the little boys. You have watched them grow up together, plot and scheme together, win and lose together. They have raided your kitchen, camped out in your basement, stole your heart. They are blessed with something they will never have again. They know it and you know it.
So you pray that wonder will last another game, and then another, because as long as it does, you hang on to a piece of your boy for a bit longer. Watching him walk off that field one last time will be no less painful than giving birth to him all those years ago.
Enjoy the season moms! You're the best! And, hey guys, don't forget to give mom a bigger hug this week as the season starts. There's nobody in the stand cheering for you harder!

So the season begins tonight!!! Let's get it on!!! Go Cavemen!

Mrs. Risner

Gabi's new class has a bath tub!!! You see, you can earn a bar of soap by doing nice things or answering certain questions, etc etc etc and turn them in for your turn at a quiet time in the tub while you read or study :) I'm liking this class!!! Mrs. Risner was also recommended to us by my brother who actually did all his student teaching with her!!! Awesome opportunity for Gabi to have one of the best teachers in the system!!! Looking forward to this year! And a sidenote...Gabi got her first bar of soap today!! :)

Varsity/Senior Dinner

On the menu: 9 slabs of Dad's famous BBQ ribs requested by Tyler himself, 150 Buffalo Wild Wings (boneless only please per Tyler), Aunt Julie's loaded potatoes, mashed potatoes (courtesy of Potato Buds lol), Macaroni Salad from Gordon's (good choice Julie ;)), dinner rolls, Tortilla chips and 7 layer dip, potato chips, Abby's good strawberry dessert and brownies!

Activities: Swimming, hot tubbing, corn hole and socializing!

Proud of these young men...they cleaned up after themselves, they were polite and not loud/overwhelming, and they thanked us for such a good night!! Go get 'em tomorrow night Cavemen!

5th Grade!

And so the school year begins....I can't believe how quickly this summer flew by! Don't you love all those silly bandz on Gabi's wrist...my babies...another year older, another grade down. Gabi onto the 5th grade with Mrs. Risner (Chad did his student teaching with her - AWESOME teacher)!! And Tyler's last "first day of high school." Wow.

Scrimmage Concord

We were so ready for last night, and when I say we, I mean Ben and I. Just excited for football! Tyler played fullback and outside linebacker...his two official positions and even got one touchdown, but they weren't keeping score. Team looking better than expected. We are ready!

Kenny Chesney - The Boys of Fall

Speechless...

When I feel that chill and smell that wet cut grass

I'm back in my helmet cleats and shoulder pads

Standin in the huddle listenin to the call

Fans going crazy for the boys of fall.

They didn't let just anybody in that club

Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood

To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall

King of the school man we're the boys of fall.

Well it's turnin to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slingin mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs agains the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

In little towns like mine it's all they got

Newspapers clippings fill the coffee shops

The old men will always think they know it all

Young girls will dream of the Boys of Fall.

Last Year of Football Pics

Can I just say this was a very bittersweet time for me..there were times when I laughed..and times when I stood back in awe and thought, "wow...I can't believe this year is it." Really gonna soak it all in and savor every moment.

Cuddles

More cute snapshots of the new little critter...

The Newest Member

Meet Cuddles...our new Robo Hamster. It is a "he" and he is 6 months or less according to Petsmart. We really didn't like going the pet store route but have not heard of any new baby hamsters around...These hamsters are considered the smallest species of hamsters, they VERY rarely bite and are super, SUPER fast. I told Gabi she has to try and hold Cuddles at least 10 minutes a day to try and get it used to the human hand. She promises she will...we will see. Welcome to the family, Cuddles!

Musical Bedrooms

Yes, this pic is of Maizy...lazy Maizy. This girl plays musical bedrooms in the morning. She will literally go from room to room as people get up, laying with the ones still left in bed. She just doesn't want to get up in the morning!!!

Not 3 Anymore!

Called Addy today and she was so excited to let me know that she was NOT 3 anymore!! Happy birthday to this special girl...my go cart buddy ;)

Birthday Dinner

Celebrated my dad's birthday by spending the afternoon with him. The kiddos swam while the adults just relaxed and talked. Topped the day off by dinner at Red Lobster!!! Wishing my dad a wonderful birthday with MANY more to come! Love you dad! It was good spending time with everyone!

Sports Talk 960 am

We have become quite the fans of Sports Talk 960 am last past year when football comes around and on Wednesday night Tyler texted me and said he was gonna be on the radio live so we quickly wrapped up what we were doing and went in to listen. Check it out here!

Sad Finding

After watching some of Tyler's football practice I came home to put laundry away and found little Bubbles had passed. There were several times this year that she kind of acted sickly and we were worried about her but everytime Gabi would say a little prayer and she would get better! I must say a nice testament to the power of prayer for a little girl...but no sign today. She looked like she just layed down and went to sleep. They say hamsters only live 2-3 years and she has had a wonderful life of over 2 years!! Many things about Bubbles will be missed though...Gabi having her cage next to her at night to watch over, giving her the cottage cheese she loved (and was her favorite according to Gabi), and the neatest thing...when we whispered her name at night when she was burrowed down in her bed, she would come out and come right up to the cage where we were talking to her to get a looksy. She was a curious little thing. RIP little Bubbles...you were a fine pet for my Gabi girl.

Pigskin Preview

An exercpt from last night's local news on the Pigskin Preview for the Mishawaka Cavemen...

Tyler says they have to "keep the momentum going, last year is in the past and we have to do our own thing. The seniors need to step up and that's what we're doing." Awesome hearing him on 960 am talk radio last night also talking about the season.

60

Happy, happy 60th birthday to my loving dad!! The rock of our family...I am so blessed to have a dad who brought me up in a home where God came first, it has set such a presidence in my life and has taught me to love no matter what. I love you dad!! I hope your day is as great as you are!! Love you!!!

Let Football Begin!

Two a days have begun and today was the first day the players could have official physical contact, which means they could actually make "hits." It is the day football players love and can feel some kind of gratification or return for the hard work they have been putting out. Tyler was excited. He brought home the 2010 Indiana Football Digest and lo and behold, he happens to be on page 62!!! You can order one here for yourself if you want!! The only thing I would have to argue about is his weight they have listed...165 lbs....hahahahahahaha, they better check that one again ;) Try adding 20 lbs on to that number and it would be more accurate! Oh and if you are a big fan of high school football in Indiana - check out Grid Iron Digest for a discussion board- it is very interesting! Looking so forward to football!

The List

Gabi's list that she kept in her back pocket was THE important thing this weekend as we packed up and headed to Fremont, Indiana again to visit our Jellystone. Gabi brought Emma and Tyler brought Abby. We accomplished much on that list plus sooo much more! GREAT MEMORIES!

Picture time, Bingo....lots of Bingo (no wins but lots of laughs), a first time fishing for Abby, waterslide, putt putt, arcade games, more fishing, pudgy pie making contest (mom vs. Tyler - with me winning 3 out of 3!!), lake fun, pool, walks, s'mores, checking out campers and sites, more Bingo, more fishing and just FUN! Good weekend to end the camping season on.